An Everyday Parent’s Advice for Buying the Perfect Baby Blanket - Sleeping Blankets and Play Blankets

Jill, 26, Petersburg, KY

Proud mom of Madison

When it comes to purchasing the perfect baby blanket, Jill says first things first.  You need to decide what you want to use the blanket for (sleeping, playtime, swaddling, etc.) before you begin your search.  Then search for a blanket that has the qualities that match the use.

Jill says the blankets she used most often for her daughter were for sleeping and playing.  Below are her tips for finding great blankets for sleep and play.

Advice for finding a great blanket for sleeping:

1)  Find a blanket made of quality material.

My favorite blanket to wrap Madison in was a medium-sized blanket made of heavy material (but not too thick).

2)  Find a blanket that keeps your baby a comfortable temperature.
My husband and I liked the blanket mentioned above because it was heavy enough to keep Madison warm without being bulky or fuzzy.  The weight of the material is important, I don’t want my child to get too hot or too cold.

3)  Find a blanket that is durable and can grow with your child.

When shopping for a baby blanket for my own daughter or for a friend, I look for a blanket similar to my favorite blanket described above.  I want to get a lot of use out of the blankets I purchase. The large “throw” blankets you put on the floor don’t get used after they start crawling/walking and the small receiving blankets are only good for a few months.

4)  Find a blanket that is safe for sleeping.

I always make sure the fabric is safe for sleeping.  I steer clear of  fuzzy fabrics when it comes to sleeping blankets and of course, it must be flame retardant.

Advice for finding a great blanket for playing:

1)  Find a blanket that provides comfort and cushion.
When our daughter was first born we had a big playtime blanket that was extra thick to put down on our hardwood floors.

2)  Find a blanket with a fun texture and design for your baby’s playtime.

Our play blanket was fuzzy with bright colors for Madison to look at.  She loved it!

The Snuggie

A good friend of mine, who is a OCD penny pincher, posted this infomercial on his site, and I just had to share it.  A couple of things are hilarious here:

1.  When we were college roommates living in an apartment, you could constantly here my friend Brian yell “Pennies!” on almost a daily basis.  Translation - if there was anything on in our apartment, lights, heat, extra toilet flushes, he would yell “pennies” which was his way at chastising us for not saving money.  So, this blanket is ironically perfect for him.

2.  As my buddy points out on his blog, this product is simply hilarious.  Brian pointed out that it makes you look like Obi Won Kenobi.  I would also like to note that you will look like a Jawa. 

Ok, so maybe you won’t see The Snuggie featured on Blanketmybaby.com, but when we find something this fun, we have to share it with you!

   

Jawa

An Everyday Parent’s Advice for Buying the Perfect Baby Blanket - Introduction

We, at Blanketmybaby.com have made it our goal to bring you quality information and reviews for unique baby blankets. While we have researched, purchased, used and reviewed our share of baby blankets, we know that there are more blankets out there.  We’re on a mission to help you find the best of the best.  

Searching for the perfect baby blanket for your baby or for a friend can be fun—but let’s face it—it can also be overwhelming.  There are so many blankets to pick from.  How can you find the blanket of your dreams online and how can you trust that the blanket will meet your expectations when you can’t feel it, test it or take a good look at it on a website?

Wouldn’t it be simple if someone you could trust told you how and where to find a great blanket you’re looking for?  Maybe you don’t even know what you want or where to begin your search.  What should you expect in a baby blanket?

What are real parents out there using?  Well, I’m glad you asked.  This question is exactly what sparked the new series on our blog “An Everyday Parent’s Advice for Buying the Perfect Baby Blanket”.

We will be posting advice from parents about the baby blankets they love and use.  You will find information such as shopping advice, pricing, health and safety, sentimental value, and more!  Check our blog at Blanketmybaby.com regularly for updated baby blanket advice from real parents of real kids using real baby blankets.

Kiddopotamus SwaddleMe Blanket Review

If you’re a looking for a great Swaddle Blanket for a price that won’t break the bank, Kiddopotamus SwaddleMe blanket may be exactly what you are looking for.  Kiddopotamus has developed some solid design techniques that they claim will enhance your child’s safety, comfort, and developmental needs.  Of course, we all know that the real test for a swaddle blanket is whether or not it works.  Because if it does, it could mean a great night’s sleep for you and your baby, and how much is that worth to you?!?  

The SwaddleMe blanket is probably Kiddopotamus most popular and well known blanket.  The company has put the blanket through numerous safety standards, and they are constantly on the lookout for the latest in design techniques.  The SwaddleMe comes in a variety of fabrics, designs and sizes:

• 100% Cotton Knit Solids
• 100% Cotton Knit Prints
• 100% Cotton Flanel
• Microfleece Solids
• Microfleece Prints
• Bamboo

What Do You Put On A Personalized Baby Blanket?

Ok, so you’ve decided to give a baby blanket for a gift to your expecting family member or friend.  Even better, you’ve narrowed down from all of the choices to the category of a personalized baby blanket.  Now, the only real decision left is figuring out what the heck you put on it!  

Personalized baby blankets are among the most popular of categories for shops that sell baby blankets.  Good news for you the shopper is that many sites even offer this feature for free!  However, it can be difficult to know what to put on the blanket (especially if you don’t know the child’s name).  In most cases, a personalized baby blanket must be given after the announcement of the baby name is made, unless you have some super zealous parents who have already named their child.  So, hear are a few of the choices you can make to embroider on the blanket

• First name only
• First and last name
• First, middle and last name
• First and last name initials
• First, middle, and last name initials
• First name and birth date
• First name and last name with birth date
• First, middle and last name with birth date
• First and last name initials with birth date
• First, middle and last name initials with birth date

The Miracle Blanket Review

Why is it called the Miracle Blanket? Because with it, you might actually get some sleep - now that would be a MIRACLE!  If your baby gets a good nights sleep, then so will you.  

Customers and retailers alike have been raving about this unique baby blanket.  The Miracle Blanket uses a unique design to help make swaddling your baby extremely simple.  The store claims that you could even swaddle in the dark.  If you can get a fussy baby to sleep, then both you and your baby will have a great amount of energy to tackle the next day.

The fabric is made of 100% cotton knit.  It’s a stretchable material - tight enough to keep from coming undone, but stretchy enough so that your baby doesn’t feel too constricted.  The cotton is breathable enough to be used on warm nights, but it also will keep your baby warm through the winter.  And one of the best features is that it can be machine washed on cold cycle and dried on delicate.  Having a durable baby blanket is absolutely essential.  

This baby blanket can be found in a variety of colors and goes for $29.95 at Miracle Industries, LLC..

But don’t take my word for it…

Personalized NFL Football Blanket

Personalized NFL Baby Blanket

Are you ready for some football???  It’s almost playoff time in the NFL with all of football’s best teams competing for the Lobardi Trophy.  Yes, it’s important to root on your team every week, but maybe the best thing you can do as a fan for your team is secure the fan base for the next generation.  

You’ll be a winner with one of these Personalized Football Snuggle Blankets (10 Teams), from Baby Gifts & Gifts Baskets.  These adorable blankets are 14″ x 18″ and they have an attached plush football of your favorite team right on them.  The blanket comes embroidered with the NFL team name, and you can have the child’s name embroidered on as well.  There are 10 teams available to choose from, and the blanket is machine washable.  Choose from the following teams:

• 49ers
• Steelers
• Broncos
• Giants
• Cowboys 
• Colts
• Jets
• Bears
• Patriots
• Raiders

Chenille Baby Blanket from SpiffyBaby.com

Check out these Piccolo Bambino Plush Chenille Blankets with a Satin Embroidered Panel.  These plush  blankets look so incredibly soft and comfy.  This is the kind of blanket that you want to wrap yourself in because it is so cozy and snug!

The dimensions of this blanket are 30″ x 36″, and they come packaged in vinyl to make a great gift.  The blankets are composed of 100% chenille polyester and they have soft, satin embroidered panels.  You can choose from any of these colors:

• Buttercup (Yellow)
• Pear White (White)
• Sky Blue (Blue)
• Shell Pink (Pink)
• Apple Green (Green)

This Piccolo Bambino blanket can be found for $30 at SpiffyBaby.com.

Blue Receiving Blanket by SwaddleDesigns

This blue receiving blanket is a real winner for its look and its health benefits. Your new baby boy would sleep wonderfully in this swaddle blanket.

Swaddling your baby can reduce the rids of SIDS. Any blanket that can keep your baby warm, give them comfort, and protect them from potential harm is a winner in our book. Better yet, if you are unfamiliar with how to swaddle, this blanket comes with easy to see directions sewn onto the blanket so that you won’t forget!  The Ultimate Receiving Blanket® is the only blanket with swaddling instructions sewn to its edge. This is an excellent little perk that the folks at SwaddleDesigns has made available for all of their customers.

The blanket is made of super-soft, preshrunk cotton flannel (measuring 42 X 42 inches square). This is noticeably bigger than your typical receiving blanket, but no worries, it still rolls up nicely for travel. It should fit your diaper bag without any problem.

The blanket can be bought for $24.95 at BMB.  Just click here. And be sure to check out all of our swaddling blankets.

Homemade Baby Blankets Video Series: Part 10 - How to Finish Baby Blanket Corners

You are almost finished! Hang in there, Karina helps you finish your baby blanket in this video, “How to Finish Baby Blanket Corners.” Learn about how to finish the baby blanket corners with expert sewing tips in this free craft video clip. This is also a bit of a tricky technique, so rewatch it if you have to.

We hope this video series has been helpful for you if you are endeavoring in making your own baby blanket. It’s such a great gift for newborns and parents. Hope you have had fun making your blanket, and we hope you have enjoyed this video series!

Check back on our blog often for new content all about the best and unique baby blankets.